The Salary of Indian Police Service (IPS) Officers

Indian Police Service (IPS) is one of the three All India Services of India. Along with Indian Administrative Services (IAS), it is widely regarded as a job which gives the opportunity to make a direct, positive, and long term impact on the life of common citizen. The recent internal security problems have only made it all the more important. Lots of youths in India wish to become an IPS officer because of the intense desire that they feel to serve their motherland.

In this article, we will discuss the salary of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. Before diving into that discussion, we must keep this in mind that salary is a minor factor which drives youths towards this service. IPS officers are always compatible to hold high positions in private sector which may give them many times salary with lavish lifestyles. But, more than salary, it is their ambition to make a direct impact in their motherland which attracts them towards IPS. I have mentioned ‘direct’ impact, one may say that executives working in private sector are making ‘more’ impact by contributing to the growth of Indian Economy. Nonetheless, sometimes direct impact matters more.

We have the report of Sixth Pay Commission which is the latest one. The Sixth Pay Commission has recommended the following pay scales for IPS officers which have been accepted by the Government of India.

Junior Time Scale [Pay Band – III]:

Rs. 15,600 – Rs. 39,100 [Grade Pay of Rs. 5,400 is added with this scale]. This is the first pay scale that an IPS officer gets when he joined the service. The new officers are kept on this scale from their training period to the next promotion. Assistant Commissioner of Police and DSP are two usual ranks that we see with this scale.

Senior Time Scale [Pay Band – III]

Rs. 15,600 – Rs. 39,100 [Grade Pay of Rs. 6,600 is added with this scale]

This is the first promotion that an IPS officer gets. One might not get real promotion in rank with this scale.

Junior Administrative Grade [Pay Band – III]

Rs. 15,600 – Rs. 39,100 [Grade Pay of Rs. 7,600 is added with this scale]

When an IPS officer is promoted to the Superintendent of Police [SP] then he catches up with this grade. Deputy Commission of Police [DCP] is another well known post with this grade along with other posts.

Selection Grade [Pay Band – IV]

Rs. 15,600 – Rs. 39,100 [Grade Pay of Rs. 8,700 is added with this scale]

Another promotion and IPS officers touch the next Pay Band that is Pay Band Four. Senior Superintendent of Police [SSP] is a well known post related to this grade along with other posts.

Super Time Scale [Pay Band – IV] – DIG GRADE

Rs. 37,400 – Rs. 67,000 [Grade Pay of Rs. 8,900 is added with this scale]

This marks a big leap for any IPS officer. Deputy Inspector General of Police [DIG] and Commission of Police are two very well known posts of this scale along with other posts.

Super Time Scale [Pay Band –IV] – SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE

Rs. 37,400 – Rs. 67,000 [Grade Pay of Rs. 10,000 is added with this scale]

Inspector General of Police is a well known post of this scale.

Above Super Time Scale

Rs. 67,000 – Rs. 79,000

Most IPS officers retired with at this scale. It should also be noted that Chiefs of CBI, IB, RAW, NIA belongs to IPS and usually those officers who retired at this scale.

Apex Scale

Rs. 80,000 [Fixed according to Sixth Pay commission]

The Director General of Police [DGP] the top police personnel of any state belong to this scale. Since, only one person can occupy this post at a time hence lots of officers retired at the penultimate scale and becomes head of various intelligence agencies.

Though, the IPS officers lobby had shown its dissent to the Government of India regarding this salary structure recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission but Govt. went ahead with the recommendations.

On a side note, the salary of an IPS officer is nothing compared to what he does and not a reflection of his capability. But, one should also not forget the fact that the Government of India spends quite huge amount of money on an IPS officer per month in addition with the salary. The perks are huge. And then if we add the costs of vehicles, drivers, servants, well furnished flats, security personnel then the salary of IPS officers comes out to be far much better than private sector.

-------- With valuable inputs from Manish Kumar...... ---------